Rider Information

It is CATA’s goal to provide reliable, safe and affordable transportation to ALL residents of Crawford and Venango counties. In order to do so, it is important that our riders understand some basic policies for using the CATA bus.

Shared Ride Bus Policies

On-time policy – It is the goal of CATA to pick up all riders within 15 minutes before or 15 minutes after the scheduled pick up time. It is the responsibility of the rider to be ready for the CATA bus during this time frame.

Wait policy – When the CATA bus arrives to pick you up, the bus driver will wait a maximum of 10 minutes for the rider. If you are going to be late or need to change your trip time, please call CATA at 814-336-5600 between 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM so we can notify the driver.

Cancellation Policy – Any rider who needs to cancel their scheduled trip must notify CATA atleast one hour before the trip. Failure to cancel your trip could result in the rider being charged the full fare for that trip. Please call CATA at 814-336-5600 between 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM to cancel your trip.

Door to Door service – CATA bus drivers can, and will, assist any rider who needs help entering or exiting the CATA bus. The rider must request assistance of the bus driver.

Entering homes or building – The CATA bus driver is not permitted to enter any person’s home or place of residence. It is the responsibility of the rider to enter and exit their home or place of residence without assistance of the CATA bus driver.

Riding with an Escort – Any person who uses the CATA bus service can have an escort ride with them for free. All escorts must get on and off the bus at the same time as the rider. If an escort is needed, you must tell CATA when you schedule your trip.

Package Policy – All riders are permitted to carry packages and bags on the CATA bus. Bus drivers shall assist with putting bags on or off the bus only if the rider requests assistance. There is no limit to the number of bags that a rider can bring on the bus, but a rider can not bring an excessive amount of bags that will take up additional seats or cause an inconvenience to other riders.

Accessible Access Policy – All riders that use mobility aid devices such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, etc. must have an accessible path from the door of your residence to the entrance of the bus while parked in your driveway. Wheelchair ramps must be clear of snow and other debris, driveways must be plowed and/or salted to prevent ice and no driver is authorized to lift a manual wheelchair over more than one step. Under no circumstances will a drive push or lift an electricly-powered wheelchair or scooter. Drivers will not push wheelchairs through snow or yards.

Fixed Route Bus Policies

All schedule times are approximate. Please be at your bus stop a few minutes early.

The bus will pick you up at designated stops only. You must be standing at a bus stop sign in order to board.

The bus can not wait at a bus stop. Please be ready to board the bus when you see it coming.

Bus drivers do not carry change. All riders must have their pass or payment ready when boarding the bus.

All buses are wheelchair accessible.

Preferential seating is available for seniors and persons with disabilities. Any person sitting in a seat marked for preferential seating must transfer seats if asked by the bus driver.

Passengers are not permitted to bring food on the bus. Passengers may carry drinks as long as the liquid is in a seal-able container.

Package Policy

A rider may carry on only as many bags as they (the rider) can carry on and off the bus in one trip by themselves. A rider cannot enter and exit the bus to load packages. Drivers will not assist in carrying bags on or off the bus.

If a rider attempts to board the bus with more bags than what is allowed for according to this policy, the driver has the right to refuse bus service to the rider.

No grocery carts or other wheeled storage units such as wagons are permitted on the bus. Small fold-up pull carts are permitted but must be collapsed when on the bus or outside of the aisle so not to create a safety hazard.

No bags or packages are to be left unattended at any time on the bus by the rider.

All bags must be held by the rider or placed on the floor under the seat. At no times are bags allowed to be placed in the aisle way or placed on other seats.

Wheelchair Ramp and Kneeler Policy

For the purpose of this policy the term "wheelchair" refers to wheelchairs (motorized or manual), motorized scooters or other riding devices that are of medical necessity for the rider excluding bicycles.

Some CATA vehicles are equipped with a ramp entry system (as opposed to a 3 step entry) that allows for a fold out ramp to be deployed to ground level for passenger entry. The wheelchair ramp on the CATA bus will only be deployed for persons that need to enter/exit the bus via a wheelchair, mobility aid device such as a walker or cane or upon request of the passenger. The wheelchair ramp will be deployed by the driver for all wheelchairs, but riders with other mobility aid devices such as walkers or a cane or riders requesting usage of the ramp must request that the driver kneel the ramp..

Prior to a wheelchair/scooter entering the bus, the bus driver may ask other passengers to temporarily move from their seat to allow proper room for the wheelchair to board. All passengers must temporarily move from their seat if asked by the driver.

All wheelchairs on the CATA bus must be properly secured by the bus driver to ensure proper safety while riding. If a wheelchair is not designed for vehicle transportation as described in the owner’s manual/specifications for the unit, CATA reserves the right to deny service to the rider in such a wheelchair. CATA will work with all riders to help determine if your wheelchair has a manufacturer’s notice that restricts the unit from being properly secured for vehicle transportation.

Any wheelchair with an “after market” alteration that increases the dimensions of the wheelchair may result in the wheelchair being too large to fit in the CATA bus. CATA will make an assessment of any wheelchair that has been modified by the rider to determine if the wheelchair can be safely transported on the bus.

Stroller Policy

Strollers are permitted on the bus.

Strollers must be placed in the designated area behind the driver so that the stroller does not interfere with other passengers. Should a passenger utilizing a wheelchair need the space directly behind the driver, the stroller must be folded and moved.

Should a stroller be too big to fit in the designated area or the designated area is already occupied, the driver may request that the stroller be folded prior to entering the bus.

Strollers cannot be left in the aisle and must be held by the rider at all times to ensure the safety of all passengers.

Other Policies

Animals are not allowed on the bus except for those designated and defined as “service animals” by the Federal Government.

The following are not allowed on the bus: Smoking, loud, vulgar or disruptive language, radios (unless using a headphone), food, drinks (unless in a sealed container) any hazardous material or weapons.